§ 19-181. Collection of sums due city; liens; interest; charges.

(a)

The director of finance shall receive and collect all charges for the use of city property or special services rendered by the city, sums due the city on any contracts, and all other sums due the city.

(b)

When special services are rendered by the city, the charges therefor shall constitute a lien upon the property benefitted. The charges for all services shall be treated as are utility charges and shall be subject to the provisions of section 21-26 et seq.

(c)

When a charge is to be collected by the director of finance for the use of city property, special services rendered, sale of excess city property, or charges as provided in subsection (d) below, such obligation shall bear interest thirty (30) days from the date of use, service or sale until the entire principal and interest are paid, at a rate of one (1) percent per month on the unpaid balance.

(d)

For any payment given by a party to the city, in purported payment of any obligation due the city, which is not cleared by the financial institution on which it is drawn, for reasons such as, but not limited to, insufficient funds, account closed, etc., there shall be added to the obligation due the city the charge of eighteen dollars ($18.00) to cover the additional cost of collection to the city associated therewith. Such charge may be increased or decreased by city council resolution, upon satisfactory showing that such collection cost has changed sufficiently to warrant an increase or decrease in the charge. Such charge shall be collected in the same manner as prescribed for any other indebtedness due the city. Any receipt theretofore given in reliance upon such payment shall be null and void and no other receipt shall be given for the payment of the original indebtedness until the charge has also been paid. Upon the necessity of assessing a third charge to a party in any twelve-month period, payments from said party, whether due or to be due in the future, shall only be made by certified funds, cashier's check, or cash.

(Code 1961, § 2-1.1; Ord. No. 31-1992, 9-22-92, eff. 10-26-92; Ord. No. 11-2011, 11-8-11, eff. 11-18-11)